in Roman antiquity, priests of Mars, whereof there were twelve, instituted by Numa, wearing painted parti-coloured garments and high bonnets, with a steel cuirass on the breast. They were called salii from saltare, to dance; because, after assiting at sacrifices, they went dancing about the streets, with bucklers in the left hand, and a rod in the right, striking mutually on one another's bucklers with their rods, and singing hymns in honour of the gods.